NFC West 2025 preview examining Rams, 49ers, Seahawks and Cardinals

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Inside: Key questions, breakout players and positions to watch in the NFC West, plus a look at The Athletic’s beat writer report on key learnings from each team.

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NFC West Preview

You can argue that the NFC West is the league’s most competitive division simply by looking at its lower half. In addition to the (usually) elite 49ers, the Cardinals’ steady improvement under head coach Jonathan Gannon suggests they may surprise some people. Did you know Arizona led this division in scoring last year, also finishing second in points allowed? A snapshot before we begin:

(BetMGM’s regular-season win totals are in parentheses.)

49ers (10.5 wins)

Key question: Can Robert Saleh return this defense to dominance? 

The 49ers finished eighth in the NFL in yards allowed, but 29th in points allowed. The discrepancy is due to their awful special teams units, though their defense struggled to stop the run and rarely forced turnovers (just two from Weeks 9 to 18). A rotating series of injuries and an inexperienced coordinator didn’t help matters. The architect of SF’s defense, Saleh, returns with the goal of restoring the 49ers defense to its 2017-2020 form. His work began during the draft, when the 49ers opened with five straight defensive players.

Position to watch: Receiver. 

Deebo Samuel is in Washington. Brandon Aiyuk won’t be ready for training camp. Demarcus Robinson might be suspended. There’s an early-season opportunity for Jauan Jennings, their most productive receiver in 2024, and Ricky Pearsall, last year’s first-round pick who led beat reporter Matt Barrows’ list of breakout 49ers to watch. There’s also sophomore Jacob Cowing, who was praised by Kyle Shanahan throughout OTAs, and even 2025 fourth-rounder Jordan Watkins, whom Brock Purdy said was “definitely a rookie that’s popped out for everybody.”

Breakout player: LB Dee Winters. 

“He’s been impressive,” Saleh said when asked about one of the league’s fastest linebackers. The 49ers spent an early third-round pick on weakside linebacker competition for Winters, but the 24-year-old responded by finishing as Matt’s No. 1 standout in OTAs.

Better than in 2024? Yes, but … 

The injury risks are ever-present for an aging cast of stars, particularly the engines of their offense, 37-year-old LT Trent Williams and 29-year-old Christian McCaffrey, who ranks fifth among active players in career touches (1,871). Like any NFL team, health matters here. But if the 49ers’ 11-pick rookie class contributes immediately, the league’s easiest schedule offers this team an opportunity to return to a 12-win level.

Rams (9.5 wins)

Key question: Is their run defense improved?

This undersized defense was a poor match for teams like the Eagles, who ran for 599 yards in two games against Los Angeles. 🤯 All told, L.A. finished 26th in yards allowed per rush. In response, they signed 5-foot-11, 315-pound, run-stopping specialist DT Poona Ford, who is exactly what they needed.

Position to watch: Running back. 

Kyren Williams hopes to become the first Rams running back to receive an extension since the disastrous Todd Gurley contract. I’d guess that the Rams — who have drafted a running back in each of the last eight drafts — prefer to develop 2024 third-rounder Blake Corum, who has a similar skillset to Williams, while adding in rookie Jarquez Hunter, whose 4.44 speed offers an explosiveness that the other two lack.

Breakout player: WR Jordan Whittington. 

A preseason standout in 2024, Whittington impressed in his three starts, when last year’s sixth-round pick posted 6 catches for 62 yards, 7 for 89 and 3 for 86. His strong play continued during spring practices, when Puka Nacua was on an excused absence and Whittington took on a significant portion of the workload, drawing praise from several coaches on a team now in need of a strong WR3.

Better than in 2024? Yes. 

After starting 3-6 in 2023 and 1-4 last season, the Rams should avoid having to chase a playoff position, thanks to addressing every major need. A rejuvenated Davante Adams, continuity along the offensive line and improving the interior defensive line could help this team make another Super Bowl run, wrote Jourdan Rodrigue in The Athletic’s post-draft outlook for all 32 teams. The Rams are still thin at cornerback, though a trade to bring back CB Jalen Ramsey would patch that hole.

Seahawks (8.5 wins)

Key question: Can the offensive line protect Sam Darnold? 

Seattle’s new starting quarterback knows he has something to prove after his tenure in Minnesota ended with 11 sacks and a completion percentage of 58 across his final two games. The problem was pressure, which means Seattle’s leaky line should be the No. 1 priority for new coordinator Klint Kubiak and line coach John Benton. Three of the five spots are settled, with competition for center and right guard ongoing.

Position to watch: Quarterback. 

Seattle has an out from Darnold’s contract after one year and $37.5 million, which means that even if there’s no quarterback competition in 2025, third-round pick Jalen Milroe could be their 2026 starter. For now, the explosive Milroe will slot into certain packages. The former Alabama QB is working hard to change that: “You see him in there at 4:30 in the morning,” said Kubiak. “Nobody asked him to do that, but he’s putting in extra time. I’ve seen him grow a lot from rookie minicamp to now.”

Breakout player: LB Tyrice Knight. 

This defense seems primed for a breakout after ranking top-five in opponent points per game, points per drive and defensive expected points added per play from their Week 10 bye onward. Their uptick coincided with Knight’s promotion, as the 2024 fourth-round pick averaged 8.1 tackles as his snap count skyrocketed.

Better than in 2024? Maybe.

This team is built on a defense that can stop anyone and a run game that should be much improved thanks to Kubiak and the addition of a fullback. If they keep Darnold clean and he replaces the underrated Geno Smith by returning to prime 2024 form, a much easier schedule could lead to some playoff noise.

Cardinals (8.5 wins)

Key question: How much better is this defense? 

The Cardinals quietly finished top 12 in both points scored and total yards, but their defense was average. Their 2025 draft might have fixed that, with their first five picks on defense, including DT Walter Nolen and CB Will Johnson, both of whom are expected to contribute immediately. Add in free-agent signings DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DT Calais Campbell and edge Josh Sweat, and this defense is now a strength.

Position to watch: Quarterback.

Kyler Murray plans to run the ball more, telling reporters that his knee injury bothered him throughout 2024. He averaged a career high in QBR and passing success rate last season, but ran for nearly half as many yards as in his 2020 season (133 attempts, 819 yards and 11 TDs). If he gets back to that level and exploits the talents of the player we’ll cover next, Murray should be back in the Pro Bowl conversation.

Breakout player: Marvin Harrison Jr.

He had slashes as a rookie but topped 100-plus receiving yards just twice and was held to fewer than 50 yards in 10 games. That’s not good enough for 2024’s No. 4 pick, whom many had labeled as generational. The sophomore has since added weight and should have improved chemistry with Murray (Harrison was targeted on just 21.5 percent of his routes, which tied for 87th among qualifying players). Expect OC Drew Petzing to force targets to his WR1, though he’s struggled to do that in his two years in the job.

Better than in 2024? Yes. 

After acing the offseason, this is the most talented roster Arizona has fielded since 2015, when Carson Palmer led a 13-3 finish. That’s not a realistic record for 2025, but a 10-win season is within reach of a team that’s doubled its win total in each year under Gannon. (This division, already competitive, could be improved across the board.)

Spring Takeaways

Today, The Athletic shared takeaways from spring practices for all 32 teams. It’s a comprehensive look into storylines sure to factor into training camps come July. Two caught my eye:

• The Ravens’ kicker competition will drag into the preseason, with sixth-round pick Tyler Loop failing to distinguish himself as Justin Tucker’s successor.

• The Texans’ offensive line sounds like a mess, with Mike Jones noting that virtually every position remains up for grabs. Not a great sign for C.J. Stroud, who has taken 90 sacks in two years.

I’ll see you Thursday, when the AFC West’s legendary coaches are under the microscope.

Friday’s most-clicked: How the Steelers are adapting their offense for Aaron Rodgers.

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(Photo:
Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)

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